Cry me a river...

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; I heard Mr. Goodell is trying to make a 7th seed, that means only the first seed gets a bye. Can he care any less about the NFL? A 7th seed means the No. 2 seed has to play in ...

I heard Mr. Goodell is trying to make a 7th seed, that means only the first seed gets a bye. Can he care any less about the NFL? A 7th seed means the No. 2 seed has to play in the first round, meaning the only best team in their respective confrence gets to rest their players and be a step ahead. If this happens look for teams to make the superbowl 8 years straight because all Goodell cares about is money.

That would be ideal if the schedule could be balanced so that each team had the same level of challenge during the year. Pretty difficult to do with such a short season though.

Each team does not have the same level of challenge through out the year now. That is impossible to forecast for scheduling did anyone think the Texans and the Falcons would be a flop this season? No they were predicted to be in the Super bowl by some.

Divisions are not in place for schedule balancing, they are in place to create and preserve rivalries because that is what generates interest and revenue.

I would not be for disbanding divisions at all. Rivalry, tradition, etc.
Eventually the NFL will move to 8 teams per conf.
Have the div winner host the runner up, then reseed based on record. Screw this bye week crap

It's currently a 16 game season, with 16 teams in each division. That's one game for each opponent in each division, plus one. Make the last game against a rotating opposite conference foe (a 16 year cycle) and then seed the top 8 based on record (tie break head to head, conference record, points differential overall).

It's currently a 16 game season, with 16 teams in each division. That's one game for each opponent in each division, plus one. Make the last game against a rotating opposite conference foe (a 16 year cycle) and then seed the top 8 based on record (tie break head to head, conference record, points differential overall).

There. Simple.

I see what you are saying but in my humble and often ignored opinion the divisions and their rivalries are the absolute best part of football. I don't care that a lower record team makes it in the playoffs as long as they handle their division.